Event Log: July, Seeing Red & Hot and Cold

[faileas]

Event Log: July, Seeing Red & Hot and Cold

I. Underground (18th on) The Matriarch presents herself around mid-month to announce that the tunnel leading to the city will remain open to Mirrorbound indefinitely. With that said and done, visitors may find residents of the city setting up more permanent signs to point the way, and a guard station just past the curtain of moss that covers the tunnel entrance, manned by friendly enough Monsters who only want to make sure that nothing too important (like scrolls from the library) leaves the city. The atmosphere is overall fairly welcoming, now that the Mirrorbound have earned the Matriarch's approval, but it's also around this time that the locals become rather distracted by a new issue cropping up. Not a new problem, but a problem beginning to escalate. The gray-green protective moss that grows over all the entrances to the great cavern like membranes has sported flashes of a new color in the last several weeks, a bright red algae-like organism that creeps over the stone walls, and attaches itself to the moss sheets. It seemed benign at first, but as it spreads further and thicker, it starts to eat holes in the moss, from small pinholes to holes the size of a fist. The protective moss seems to be fighting back, now trying and failing to consume the patches of what locals are beginning to call Red Death. If you've breathed in the red algae's spores, the moss will wrap around you, creep into your mouth and nose, trying to remove the spores but not trying to absorb you. Trying to protect, perhaps? Mirrorbound are welcomed with open arms to assist if they are brave enough to do so; no doubt providing help with this vital matter could cement their position as allies of the Underground. a. Root of the Issue Removing the algae and healing the moss becomes number one priority around the city. Small groups of both fighters and researchers venture out into the tunnels, the smaller and lesser used ones, to try and track the source of the algae. It seems to first show up growing out of thick veins of Cwyld in the stone walls some miles out from the city, and have grown toward the main cavern. Careful eyes might spot patches of red algae that are much less vibrant, more of a pink color, and seem entirely benign. Maybe the Cwyld has mutated it? But be careful researching. The tunnels are dangerous on a good day, even putting aside the risk of infection, and the risk of the mutated Red Death giving off clouds of spores that threaten to choke and suffocate. The infected creatures out here are much bigger, and hungrier - massive, carnivorous blind armadillos with impenetrable upper shells and soft underbellies, dog-sized bullet ants with a bite that feels like you've been shot, and more rock-burrowing moles, most infected to some degree, will ambush any unaware travelers. With a potential source found, elimination of the Red Death becomes the next step. The people of the Underground have not seen something like this before, and do not entirely know where to start; they're willing to try anything that will not blatantly harm the protective moss as well, and a multi-pronged approach of different solutions may be the answer. b. The Side-Effects Number two priority is battling back the infected creatures that take this opportunity to squeeze and tear through holes in the moss without being eaten, as they normally would be. While many of the citizens are warriors themselves, there are plenty who are not, and the infected blood-sucking bats, fat white venomous wasps, and sharp-fanged earthworms quickly become an issue, spreading minor infections to the locals with their bites and stings. Many hands and weapons are needed to perform pest control. They've set up a pyre in the center of the city, safely surrounded by stone, to drop the infected creature corpses into, and open use in the streets of magic and Monster abilities alike will not be scolded as long as it's meant to be helping with the problem. Just try not to catch any bystanders! So too will people need to be healed of minor, new infections. Those who have been taught by the Coven or the Wilders are considered quite helpful here, but there is another option - moss from The Ruins above-ground can be eaten to act as an antibiotic for the Cwyld, so fetching containers of it to bring down below and distribute is a job that any Mirrorbound can do. The Red Death can be cleared out in multiple ways, including magical herbicides, manual scouring with heat, spells or potions, use of Faun magic to encourage it away from the moss, finding or creating plants or fungi that will kill the algae, discovering small creatures that will actually eat it (the wormipedes will not), purging the Cwyld infection from where the Red Death seems to begin, etc. Feel free to be creative with how your character would tackle the problem, we will be accepting anything short of fire as a partial solution. Just drop us a note in this thread what your character does!

II. The Northern Outpost (17th-22nd) In the thick of winter, this section of the Wilde could be a cool relief from the Juril heat that takes over Aefenglom. Easily reached by teleporter, the Northern Outpost has made strides in setting up as a true outpost, especially with its new importance as the closest location to the tunnel that leads Underground. A few more cabins have been built up in a little mini-settlement, offering a place to shelter and rest from exploration and research. Thankfully, because the snow is manageable but steady outside. They're not surprised by these snowdrifts forming, but around mid-month, it just grows worse. A flock of summer pixies sweep across the land, leaving large swathes of ground around the Outpost cleared of snow as they throw off sparks and heat, and they bring patches of lingering summer with them. They don't stick around for long, moving on quickly as they head toward Aefenglom, apparently drawn toward a real summer. This flash of the opposing season angers something else. Where before there was a winter of normal severity, now blizzards howl and snow piles up waist-high or better, freezing over a chunk of the nearby river and threatening to overwhelm ill-prepared travelers with frigid temperatures and treacherous ice build-up. Bundle and cuddle up, because it's about to be a long winter. It does make reaching the Ruins, a long-abandoned, now fully exorcised settlement just south of the Northern Outpost, more difficult, even if the cold doesn't seem to kill the valuable infection-curing moss that covers its tumbled buildings and broken walls. With the situation Underground threatening to turn dire, something needs to be done up above to keep the path accessible. The culprits behind the blizzards are discovered to be semi-tangible frost elementals, angered by the procession of pixies that threatened, however briefly, to bring an early summer. They can be dealt with in many ways: fighting them (they wield powerful ice magic and flit in and out of being solid, so it isn't easy, but it's possible), appeasing them with wintry offerings or kind words, or other creative solutions. They do not speak, but their otherworldly faces are quite expressive, and once they've been driven away or settled, the blizzards will end, making traversing this area of the Wilde much easier.

III. Aefenglom (18th-22nd) While the Wilde is a winter wonderland, Aefenglom is suffering from a Juril heat wave. The temperatures are high even before the procession of summer pixies reach the city. Like their icy counterparts from Deceuer, these tiny, Fae-adjacent winged beings are semi-sentient, and bring their season with them wherever they go. In shades of red and orange, with fluttering wings of fire, these pixies ride fist-sized fire-scarab beetles that throw off sparks and raise the ambient temperature wherever they fly. In these dry conditions, it could spell disaster. The pixies seem to only have mischief in mind. Their language is long lost to time, but they're delighted to chatter at unsuspecting passers-by while they set fires; these are mostly insults, and they seem to know some crude human hand gestures to go along with them. Needless to say, they are unpleasant little beings, and the Coven regards them as dangerous pests. They can be eliminated if necessary, by dousing them with water or ice, or by trapping them in metal or stone containers. They can also be distracted or appeased with various offerings, opportunities to cause controlled chaos, or with sufficient deference. Separating them from their fire-scarab mounts will also cut their power in half. Just be careful when squashing the beetles: they go up in flames when they die, and instantly burn to a pile of ash. Regardless of how they are dealt with, they need to be dealt with. With the procession comes: lengthened days, the sun remaining high in the sky for longer than it should; a heatwave like Aefenglom has not seen in quite some time that starts to evaporate the River Temese, lowering the water levels and making algae bloom in the water; gardens wilting from the heat, the soil drying out more quickly; and of course, building and market stall fires throughout the city as errant sparks catch wood or fabric. The Coven Witches are out in force trying to do damage control with water and ice spells, and any help is welcome from Witch or Monster. Special classes also turn toward learning these water and ice spells, along with how to enchant umbrellas to cast a perimeter of night-time darkness (for Vampires and other nocturnal Monsters), and how to enchant items into sprinklers - both to beat the heat and provide some wet relief to Merrow and other water-needing Monsters. These items are available already enchanted to anybody who needs them, and citizens languishing under sprinklers become a common sight on the streets. The more pixies are removed or appeased, the quicker the effects will abate, returning to a somewhat warm if otherwise pleasant summer, but the pixie procession will take its leave by the 22nd regardless, forming up and erratically flitting away, following a similar path to the ice pixies back in Deceuer.

Welcome to July's event log! All weather effects in Aefenglom and the Wilde will ease off after the 22nd, and the weather will return to whatever is normal for that area. The Red Death will continue to be an issue for the Underground if not solved - player solutions should be dropped here! It will take a combination to fully clear up the problem but we encourage many different creative solutions. As always, please direct your questions here!

Comments

[darkestbefore]

[ She reaches out to accept the blanket with a grateful smile, bundling herself into it quickly as she comes closer to the fire. Since he doesn't seem to mind her presence here, she sinks down beside it, holding her hands out to try and warm them. ]

Thank you. So odd, to find winter howling away so fiercely here when it's so hot back in the city. I'm Yona, by the way.

[ Polite seems to be winning, from his earlier speculation. ]

[gynvael]

Geralt. [ A questioning look flickers over his face. ] Weather's not usually like this?

[ That is odd, if that's the case. Geralt's just assumed the outpost up north commonly has much colder weather. It's never a good sign, unusual shifts in weather. Often, it means there's something deeper going on that's causing it.

He peers out the window, watching the snow pile up fast. If things keep going this way, they'll be lucky to dig themselves out through the roof in the morning. ]

[darkestbefore]

No, not at all this bad. I mean it was winter, yes, but these storms seem to have come up out of nowhere. It wasn't like this near the entrance to the Underground's caves. I only left those an hour or so ago. It's why I was so surprised when I arrived here.

[ She watches him walk to the window, wondering what he's thinking. ]

[gynvael]

[ He's still eyeing out the window, while it's possible to see out of it. The snow is inching up towards the ledge. If there's anyone else out there, the thick snow coming down means they're too far to be seen. He turns away. Not much can be done if that's the case. ]

Caught me by surprise, too. [ He doesn't feel the cold as much as her, but temperatures are freezing enough he joins her by the fire to keep warm. He shakes out his damp hair in an effort to get it to dry out faster. ]

I was halfway to the ruins. Ended up turning back.

[darkestbefore]

I didn't even get that far.

[ She sighs in dismay, stretching her fingers before the fire as she tries to get warm. ]

Which will be a problem, if this storm keeps up. There are people in the Underground who really need the cure the moss that grows in the Ruins can offer...

[gynvael]

[ He acknowledges that with a hum. It's only part of the reason he's going there; Geralt tends to leave tasks like gathering to others. His specialty is more niche. But he wants to see exactly what this curing moss looks like and if he can maybe get a sample to someone to look closer at. Yennefer, perhaps.

He sets another log in the fire and stokes the flames. ]

Shouldn't last longer than the night. [ If it does, that means there's a bigger problem than a normal storm. ] Your supplies. What did you bring with you?

[darkestbefore]

[ She blinks at the abrupt change in topics, but quickly reaches for her bag to double-check. ]

Other than my bow? Some food, some healing supplies. I was planning on spending a few days in the Underground after my trip here and their idea of cuisine is.... different. I brought enough that we can share without going hungry, at least?

[gynvael]

Different?

[ Curious. He's never been to the Underground and now he wants to know what she means by different. If it's a matter of taste or there's more to it.

He tilts his head. A polite offer, though he'd been less concerned about himself than he is about her: how ready she'd been for a storm to trap them. ] I packed. If it comes to it, I can hunt.

[darkestbefore]

[ She makes a face when he questions her statement. ]

Let's just say they've been cut off underground for a very long time and their available options for nourishment show that. There's a lot of rodent. And bugs.

[ Neither of which she's overly fond of, clearly.

Although his mention of hunting has her eyebrows raising as she glances at the window once more. ]

Hunt? Out there in that? Do you have a death wish?

[gynvael]

[ That's, uh. He'll give her that. It's unusual. He glances out at the whited out skies and shrugs. ] I can manage.

[ If he has to. But he'd rather not, so for the time being, he's more interested in keeping the snow out and not stepping into it. He turns the topic back to their previous conversation, not wanting to fall too deep into exactly how or why he knows how to travel through a storm. ]

The underground. Were you there when they were released?

[ There's a history to this world he hasn't quite gotten all the details of. It's something he'd have wanted to know regardless, but his curiosity is driven by a more personal desire, too, evoked by the man who approached him weeks ago and claimed he knew him. Intimately. That some version of him had had a hand in freeing a city.

It isn't like him, he wants to say, to have gotten involved. But a part of him isn't so sure anymore. ]

[darkestbefore]

I was, yes. But also... [ She pauses, humming, trying to decide how to describe it. ] I visited it before arriving here in truth, as well. Many who found themselves here around the time I did had seen the Underground first in a vision. The Matriarch spoke of her own Bonded sharing this vision as well - she called it Dreamwalking. I've never experienced anything so vivid and real before - it didn't feel quite like any other dream I'd ever had before. Although I forgot it upon waking back in my home - until I stepped through the Mirror. Then it all came rushing back, clear as day.

[gynvael]

[ He's quiet while she talks. The wind howls outside, windows a white blur. ] You all shared the same dream?

[ Maybe that shouldn't come as a surprise when everyone here is connected by the same magic, the same mirrors that anchor them. It hasn't escaped him that of those he's spoken to about bonding, it tends to be that the Mirrorbound bond with other Mirrorbound.

A thoughtful pause passes. ] I suppose that's one way to ask for help.

[darkestbefore]

I don't think anyone planned that one purpose.

[ She corrects his assumption with a small smile. ]

When I spoke to the Matriarch about it later, she sounded as fascinated by it as I did. It is what prompted her to reach out to the Mirrorbound later, however. Seeking that help her Bonded witnessed in the dream.

Perhaps the land itself was looking for such a solution?

[gynvael]

[ A beat or two passes. He's not wanting to touch on his precise thoughts on prophecies and plans laid out by the world, but he knows what others might call it.

Lately, it's been harder to know what to think. He can't accurately say none of it has come to pass. ]

Is that what you believe?

[darkestbefore]

For lack of a better explanation?

[ Yona gives a slight shrug as she sighs. ]

In truth, I don't know the answer. But this place certainly seems full of strange and impossible things. I'm not writing it off. With what I've observed in the Underground, the infection from the Cwyld is enough of a threat that it would be understandable.

[gynvael]

True. [ It's a noncommittal answer, one that suggests he has little intention of sharing any further personal thoughts. Though he does file the detail away for later. Maybe when he returns, he can discuss it with Yennefer.

Provided they don't get distracted with one thing or another.

With the sun sinking outside and the weather not at all letting up, he winds up stoking the fire, glancing over his shoulder at Yona.]

You should sleep while you can.